I was born in a war zone, in the middle of Iraq, no home to call my own.
I was just a puppy when you held me in your hands, a fluff of fur no bigger than your fist.
Even at that age, I knew you were a friend.
I waited for you the next day, to feel your touch again.
But that it never came.
Others came back though, but not you. they looked upon me with sorrowful gazes.
I knew you were lost to me, lost to all those who called you friend.
And then something happened. your friends came back. they scooped me up and sent me on my way.
Sent me on my way to join your family, in your honor, and in your memory.
You called me Hero, but it is not I that is the hero, it is you, my lost friend.
You fought for all, you fought for me.
and like others, you fought so that I would not have to.
and in the end? You gave it all, the ultimate sacrifice.
We will never forget you, you will live on in those hearts you touched.
Rest in Peace.
I was just a puppy when you held me in your hands, a fluff of fur no bigger than your fist.
Even at that age, I knew you were a friend.
I waited for you the next day, to feel your touch again.
But that it never came.
Others came back though, but not you. they looked upon me with sorrowful gazes.
I knew you were lost to me, lost to all those who called you friend.
And then something happened. your friends came back. they scooped me up and sent me on my way.
Sent me on my way to join your family, in your honor, and in your memory.
You called me Hero, but it is not I that is the hero, it is you, my lost friend.
You fought for all, you fought for me.
and like others, you fought so that I would not have to.
and in the end? You gave it all, the ultimate sacrifice.
We will never forget you, you will live on in those hearts you touched.
Rest in Peace.
its not finished yet, the black is obviously the part that needs to get done, and still need some work on the part that isnt blacked out =) <-- i removed the black and just let the outline show, so that people can better see the progress.. sorry its taking so long, it seems i never have any spare time, but im determined to finish this by the end of the week! (Dec 3) i dont add the fine detail until everything has a color to it, so even where it looks done, it isnt. i think the only thing that is really done are the stones...
for anyone who watched "Saved" on Animal Planet, this is one of the dogs featured...
this is Hero, a mixed breed dog from Iraq, the dog that Justin and the other members of his team found the day before he was killed by a roadside bomb. Justin had taken pictures of him and one of the little puppies and planned to send them home to his family. he never got to send them... after Justin was killed, his family made one request: to have the puppy that he held. after a rather large scale project, Hero arrived in New Hampshire, a much bigger girl than she was in the photos...
this is a portrait of Hero, now a grown dog. this photo is from their recent trip to Justin's grave at Arlington. I plan to give it to Rhonda, Justin's mom next time i see her. i think she'll like it
Ref:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_ ... 962581.jpg
you know a military k9 isnt even aloud to return home on a military flight? i am very patriotic, but some things still get me down...
